Coupler



E. P. KINNE Dec. 18, 1934.

COUPLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29, 1928 Dec. 18, 1934. E.P.K|NNE 1,985,036

I COUPLER Filed Oct. 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec; 18, 1934 PATENT OFFICE COUPLER Edmund P. Kinne, Alliance, Ohio, assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 29,

24 Claims.

This invention pertains to coupler mechanism, and more particularly to means for operating a coupler from the side of the car.

An object of the invention is to improve the Y operation of couplers, and more particularly standard A. R. A. couplers, in a manner whereby the coupler can always be operated positively and easily through the medium of the uncoupling rod.

Another object is to provide simple, reliable, efficient and inexpensive coupler operating mechanism having cooperating parts whereby a maximum operating force may be transmitted to the lock for facilitating the operation of the coupler.

Still another object is to provide coupler operating mechanism which will fulfill all requirements of service and manufactureand in which the operating handle will always seek a position such that there will be no tendency to disrupt the'parts nor to have any interference with the relative movement of the coupled cars or cooperating parts. v

A further object is to provide a coupler mechanism which will effect a great saving in the number of parts now in use, as for instance, the

elimination of slack devices between the; operating rod and the coupling lifter.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- 'Figure l is an end elevation of a railway car embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the coupler mechanism illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentaryside elevation of the coupler illustrated in Figure 1, showing the parts in lock position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the coupler showing the relation of the parts in knuckle throw position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the coupler showing the relation of the parts in' look set position;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the coupler lifter in detail together with certain associated parts;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end elevation of a portion of a railway car,'showing a modified 1928, Serial No. 315,622

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the coupler and uncoupling rod, showing the relative position of the parts in locked position;

Figure 10 is an enlarged side elevation of the modified form of lifter shown in Figure '7;

Figure 11 is an end elevation of the lifter 1 illustrated in Figure 10; and 4 Figure 12 is a top planview of the lifter illustrated in Figure 10. I

Referring first of all to the modification illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, the car 15 end sill may have applied thereto the usual push pole pockets 26, striking casting 27 and an A. R'. A. type D coupler'28 of the rotary operating type, together with its associated mechanism. As is usual, the coupler is provided with 20 a knuckle 29 pivoted as at 30 and operated in the usual manner through mechanism controlled by the link 31. The coupler is provided with depending parallel arms or lugs 32 adapted to receive a pin 33 pivotally supporting a litter 5 34 pivoted to link 31. The lifter is provided with a jaw member 35 forming a slot with the body of said lifter, said-jaw being adapted to engage a flattened portion 36 of the pin 33,

the lifter being ''further provided with an arm 30 v A portion of the arm 3'7 is provided with a depending lug or arm 40 provided with an enlarged flattened head portion 41, said lug being rounded in elevation as at 42 to accommodate a portion of the lifting rod 43.

In the embodiment shown, a bracket 44 is 40 secured to the end sill 25 andis provided with a bearing portion 45 for supporting a portion of the operating rod 43. Said rod is provided with a handle portion 46 offset from a bracket ,1 engaging portion 47, which portion terminates 45 in a bearing or offset portion 48' so disposed that there will be little or no relative movement between the operating handle and the bracket. The operating rod is then knuckled as at 49 and O is provided with a downwardly sloping portion 50 knuckled as at 51 and formed in a link portion 52, said portion loosely encircling the lug 40 but of such dimensions that the side portions of the link are supported on the head 41 55 car, another and similar operating rod 53 may be provided but secured to the link portion 52 of the operating rod 43 as at 54. It will be seen that with the application of this type of uncoupling rod together with the clearance 55 permitted in the bracket 44, ready coupling may be had on curves or relative movement may be had between the parts of the device.

In operation, assuming the coupler is in-full locked position, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the operator raises the handle 46 to impart a counterclockwise movement to the rod. The outboard portion of the link is raisedand contacts the arm 37 to bodily raise the arm, causing the lifter to rotate with the pin 33, thereby raising the link until the handle is in the position asillustrated in Figure 4, when the coupler is in full knuckle throw position. If then the handle be released, the coupler will not return to locked position but the handle will drop to inoperative position such that there can be no interference with the handle nor will there be any danger from the handle regardless of the position of the car or coupler parts.

Referring now to the modification illustrated in Figures 7 to 12 inclusive, as before the end sill 75 may be provided with the usual push pole pockets 76, the striking casting 77, the

standard A. R. A. coupler 78 of the rotary operating type and its cooperating mechanism. In this embodiment, the pivoted knuckle 79 is operated through mechanismcontrolled by the movement of the link 80, vand as before, the coupler is provided with depending spaced lugs 81 supporting the lifter 82, pivoted as at 83 to the link 80. This lifter 82 is provided with a hook or slotted end portion 84 adapted to have cooperative relation with the fiat portion I of a pin 85 rotatably supported by said lugs the coupler parts are in locked position as il-.

81. This link has a downwardly and outwardly extending arm 86 terminating in an eye portion 87 adapted to form a connection with the link to the pin 83.

The arm 86 is provided with a depending lug 88, said lug being provided with an outwardly extending eye portion 89, said portion-being pro-' portion 89, and said rod extends through a bearing 95 provided on the bracket 96 secured to the end sill 75, said rod terminating in a depending bracket engaging portion 9'7 provided 'with an ofiset handle 98, said handle being preferably sloping downwardly and inboard of the car.

In theoperation of this device, assuming that lustrated in Figures '7, 8 and 9, the handle is moved upwardly imparting a counterclockwise movement to the'rod 93, causing a portion of the hook 94 to engage the shoulder 91 and anotherportion to engage the shoulder to impart a lifting movement to the arm 86 to thereby rotate lifter 82 around the pin 85, raising the link 80 to operate the coupler mechanism to i'ull knuckle throw .position in the usual manner.

It will be noted that in each of the embodiments disclosed the operating rod is mounted on a support adjacent its outer end and engages at its inner end said lifter intermediate its ends or eccentrically with respect to the pivot point of the lifter whereby the overbalancing weight of the inner end thereof tends to prevent movement of the lifter which would-tend to unlock the I coupler, the operating rod being free of support intermediate its ends and rotating about its longitudinal axis for operation of said lifter.

Itis to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown, which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims. I claim: 1. A lifter for coupler mechanism comprising a member having a hook portion at' one end adapted to engage a support, an eye at the other end of said member for connection to a coupler operating member, and an eye intermediate the plane substantially normal to the plane of rota- V tionof said member.

8. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, and mechanism for operating said lock, said mechanism including a support member, a lifter engaging said support and being connected to a lock operating member, said lifter having an eye intermediate its ends and in a plane substantially normal thereto, and an operating rod supported adjacent its outer end and engaging said eye at its inner end, said operating rod being free of support between its ends and rotating about its longitudinal axis for operation of said lifter.

4. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler head having a lock operable therein, and mechanism for operating said lock, said mechanism including a member supported by said head and in spaced relation therewith, a lifter having a hook portion removably engaging said member and connected to a lock operating member, said hock portion being disposed be- I tween said support member and head whereby said lifter is irremovably secured to said support member when said lifter is connected to said lock operating member, a member intermediate the ends of said lifter for support'of an operating rod, and an operating rod supported adjacent its outer end and engagingsaid intermediate member, said operating rod being free of support bemechanism including a member supported-by said head and in spaced relation therewith, a

lifter having a hook portion removably engaging said member and connected to a lock optween its ends and rotating about its longierating member, said hook portion being disposed between said supportvmember and head whereby said lifterqs irremovably secured to said supportmember when said litter is connected to said lock operating member, said lifter having an eye intermediate the ends thereof, and an operating rod supported adjacent its outer end and engaging said eye at, its inner'end, said operating rod being free of support between its ends and rotating about its longitudinal axis for operation of said lifter.

, 6. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, mechanism for operating said lock, said mechanism including a support member, a lifter having a hook portion releasably engaging said support member, said lifter having an oppositely disposed arm connected to a lock operating member, said lifter having a member intermediate the ends thereof for support of an operating rod, and an operating rod supported adjacent its outer end and having its inner end in engagement with said last-named member, said operating rod being free of support between its ends and rotating about its longitudinal axis for operation of said lifter.

'7. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, mechanism for operating said lock, said mechanism including a support member, a lifter having a hook portion releasably engaging said support member, said lifter having an oppositely disposed arm connected to a lock operating member, said lifter having a membenintermediate the ends thereof for supportof an operating rod, and an operating rod supported adjacent its outer end and having a knuckled inner end supported on said last-named member, said operating rod being free of support between its ends and rotating about its longitudinal axis for operation of said lifter.

8. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, mechanism for operating said lock, said mechanism including a support member, a lifter having a hook portion releasably engaging said support member, said lifter having an oppositely dis-' posed arm connected to. a lock operating member, said lifter haying a member intermediate the ends thereof for support of an operating rod, said lifter being formed with a shoulder, and an operating rod having a knuckled end supported solely on said last-named member and engageable with said shoulder for operation of said lifter whereby the movement of the inner end of said rod is about the axis of rotation of said lifter. -9. In a car coupler operatingmechanism, a lock movable in the coupler head, a lug depending from the coupler head and having a pivot bolt therein, means for transmitting an operating movement to the coupler lock includingra lifter arm pivoted to said lug by said bolt, and

a rotatable operating rod having a handle at the side of the car, said rod being directly connected to the lifter arm intermediate the points of connection of said lifter arm to the coupler head and lock, said rod swinging bodily about a single support at the side of the car adjacent to said handle whereby the overbalancing weight of the inner end of said operating rod tends to prevent the handle from swinging incident to the motion of the car.

10. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, bot- I 3 tom lock operating mechanism fortransmitting operative movements to said lock, said mechanism including a support, a lifter. having engagement at one end with said support and being operatively connected at its other end to said lock, and an operating rod supported adjacent its outer end and engaging at its inner end said lifter intermediate its ends, said oper* ating rod being free of support intermediate its ends and rotating about itslongitudinal axis for operation of said lifter. i

11. In' coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, bottom'lock operating mechanism for transmitting operative movements to said lock, said mechanism including a lifter pivotally connected at one end to the bottom of said coupler and operatively connected at its other end to the leg of said lock, and an operating rod supported adjacent its outer end and engaging at its inner endsaid lifter intermediate its ends, said operating rod being free of support intermediate its ends and rotating about its longitudinal axis for operation of said lifter.

' 12. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, mechanism for operating said lock, said mechanism including a lifter pivotally connected at one end to said coupler and operatively connected at its other end to the leg of said lock, said lifter having an eye intermediate'the ends thereof, and

an operating rod supported adjacent its outer end and engaging said eye at its inner end, said operating rod being free of support between its ends and rotating about its longitudinal axis for operation of said'lifter.

13. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, mechanism for operatingsaid look, a link connected to the leg of said lock, said mechanism including a lifter pivotally connected at one end to said coupler and at its other end to said link, said lifter having an eye intermediate the ends thereof, and an operating rod supported adjacentits outer end and engaging said eye at its inner end, said operating rod being free of supportbetween itsv ends and rotating about its longitudinal axis for operation of saidlifter.

14. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, mechanism for operating said lock, said mechanism including a lifter pivotally connected at one end to said coupler and operatively connected at its other end to the leg of said lock, said lifter having an eye intermediate the ends thereof, and an operating rod supported at its outer end and. extending directly to and having a knuckled portion connected to said eye whereby the inner end of said rod is supported solely by said lifter and has movement about the axis of rotation of said lifter, said knuckle portion having a loose fit with said eye to permit said rod to return to its normal locking position when said lock is in its lock-set position.

15. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, mechanism for operating said lock, said mechanism end of said rod is supported solely by said lifter 4 and has movement about the axis of rotation of said lifter, said eye having oppositely disposed shoulders engageable with said knuckled portion to substantially reduce lost motion between said rod and lifter when said rod is operated to unlock said coupler and said lost motion being suflicient to permit said rod to return to its normal locking position when said lock is in its lock-set position.

16. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, mechanism for operating said lock, said mechanism including a support, a lifter having engagement at one end with said support and be-; ing operatively connected at .i'tsother end to said lock, said lifter having an eye intermediate the ends thereof and disposed in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said lifter, and an operating rod supported adjacent its outer end and engaging said eye at its inner end, said operating rod being free of support between its ends and rotating about its longitudinal axis for operation of said lifter.

1'7. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, mechaniSm for operating said lock, said mechanism including a support, a lifter having engagement at one end with said support'and being operatively connected at its other end to said lock,

I ported by said litter and has movement about the axis of rotation of said lifter, said eye being constructed to permit return of said rod into its locked position after operation of said lock to lock-set position.

. 18. A lifter for coupler mechanism comprising a member having means at one end thereof forengaging a support, means at the other end thereofv for connection to a coupler operatin member, and a lug depending from said member intermediate its ends and having a shouldered rod supporting portion.

19. In a coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, mechanism for operatingsaid lock, said mechanism including a support, a lifter having engagement at one end with said support and being operatively connected at its other end to said lock, said lifter having a lug depending therefrom intermediate its ends and having a shoulderedportion, and an operating rod supported at its outer end and extending directly to and being connected to said lug whereby the inner end of said rod is supported by said shouldered portion and has movement about the axis of rotation of said lifter.

20. In coupler mechanism, the combination of a coupler having a lock operable therein, mechanism for operating'said lock, said mechanism including a support, a lifter having engagement at one end with said support and being operatively connected at its other end to said lock, said lifter having a lug depending therefrom intermediate its ends and having a-shouldered portion, and an-operating rod supported at its outer end andextending directly to and being connected to said lug whereby the inner end of said rod is supported by said shouldered portion and has movement about the axis of rdtation of said lifter, said lug being constructed to permit return of said rod into its locked position after operation of said lock to lock-set position.

21. In a car coupler operating mechanism, a lock movable in'the coupler head, bottom lock operating means for transmitting an operating movement to the coupler lock, said means in.-

cluding a lifter arm pivoted at one end to the.

bottom of said coupler head and operatively connected adjacent its other end to said lock,

ing means for transmitting operating movement to said lock including a lifter arm pivotally connected to the coupler head and operatively connected to said lock, and an operating rod supported adjacent its outer end and engaging at its inner end said lifter intermediate its pointsv of connection with said coupler head and said lock, said operating rod being free of support intermediate its ends and rotating about its longitudinal axis for operation of said lifter,

said rod being swingable bodily about the support for its outer end whereby the overbalancing weight of the inner end of said operating rod tends to prevent the coupler from unlocking.

23. In a car coupler mechanism, a lock mov-.

able with the coupler head, bottom lock operating means for transmitting operating movement to said lock and including a lifter arm p votally connected to the coupler head and operatively connected to said lock, and an operating rod having a handle adjacent the side of the car, said rod being supported adjacent said handle and engaging at its inner end said lifter intermediate its points of connection with said coupler head and said lock, said operating rod being free of support intermediate its ends and rotating about its longitudinal axis for operation of said lifter, said rod beingswingable bodily about the support adjacent the handle whereby the overbalancing weight of the inner end of said operating rod tends to prevent the handle from swinging incident to the motion of the car.

24. In a car coupler mechanism, a lock movable with the coupler head,,bottom rock operating means for transmitting operating movement to said lock including a lifter arm pivotally connected with the coupler head andoperatively connected to'said lock, and an operating rod supported adjacent its outer end and engaging at its inner end said lifter at a point [eccentric operating rod being free of support intermediate its ends and rotating about its longitudinal axis for operation of said lifter, said rod being swingable bodily about the support for its outer end whereby the eccentric weight of theinner end of said operating rod tends to prevent the coupler from unlocking. 

